The FFC Rumour Mill: Shea Charles arrives and Sasa Lukic departs
Jack Stroudley sums up another week of the transfer window
We’re getting closer and closer to that curtain-raiser against Chelsea and the squad seems to be nearing completion. We still need a few bodies in but it’s quite refreshing that Fulham have sorted out key positions at this stage of the window. It’s exciting, but there’s still work to do - here’s how the land lies.
Incomings
Starting with a confirmed arrival, Fulham announced the signing of Shea Charles on Tuesday morning from Southampton. The 22-year-old midfielder has signed for a reported £26.7m with add-ons taking it to £30m in a five-year-deal that has an option of a sixth.
I wrote an article on Charles on Monday which I’d recommend checking if you want to know more about the Northern Irishman, but I’m very excited.
Another midfielder who’s been continuously linked in recent weeks is Thiago Pitarch, but that interest appears to have cooled following the signing of Charles. Fabrizio Romano has reported that Real Madrid are planning to keep Pitarch around. I don’t think this will be the last we hear of this rumour, if Madrid get another midfielder, you’d imagine Fulham will reassess this at the end of the window.
Looking at bit further back, Standard Sport have reported that Rennes defender Abdelhamid Ait Boudal is keen on a move to Fulham following a £20m bid that was rejected about 10 days ago. Rennes manager Franck Haise has come out and said that the Moroccan international is not for sale but FootMercato have claimed that Fulham are preparing a second bid for the 20 year old.
Other defensive options have been mentioned this week and unsurprisingly, Fulham are targeting Spain. Jack Kelly and FulhamTransfer have reported that an enquiry has been made for Real Madrid’s 18-year-old central defender Joan Martinez.
At full-back, Fulham are also looking at FC Barcelona’s Hector Fort and have made contact. They’ve also enquired about West Ham defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka according to SkySports with Fulham looking at a loan for the right-back.
According to Dave Kidd of Saturday White Fever, Fulham are in the market for another five players and are targeting GK, RB, CB, CM as well as a winger. There’s also a potential departure according to Dave, which I’ll discuss in a bit.
Outgoings
A few confirmed departures this week starting with Sasa Lukic who has joined Issa Diop at Ipswich Town for a reported £9m.
I understand why some people would be frustrated by this, but similarly to Diop, Lukic was in the final year of his deal. Fulham have got back pretty much the entire fee they paid for the Serbian and have already replaced him with Charles. In my opinion, it’s good business for all parties.
According to Dave Kidd, the potential departing player is Timothy Castagne. Watch this space on that one.
Elsewhere, youngster Farhaan Ali Wahid has joined National League promotion chasers Boreham Wood on loan for the season.